As with all good cat stories, this one begins with a box and a kitten who lives in a shelter. This kitten loves boxes so jumps right in. While sniffing out every corner for a piece of string or even a delicious fish, the box is suddenly closed and lifted up by a human.

‘Don’t worry,’ says the human. ‘It will be okay.’ The kitten is not so sure.

After a trip in a car the kitten peeks out through the holes in the side of the box and sees a home. No! Don’t they know a cat must choose the home? Not the other way around?

As the box is opened, the kitten thinks, ‘Will they be one of those people who dress up kittens, or carry me around in a bucket?’ The littlest person looks like a tail-puller! Hiding under the lounge sounds like a good plan!

The boy says, ‘You are small and cute and I love you already.’

The kitten meows, ‘I’m not small and cute. I am STRONG and BRAVE. Put me down or I will EAT YOU!’

This book includes three tales which include Itty Bitty Kitty’s adventurous life inside her new home with her new human family. Itty Bitty Kitty is a very brave kitten and her story is fun and heartwarming as she discovers that she doesn’t mind her human family so much, or even the big ginger cat next door. With each page peppered with illustrations, this is a charming book, perfect for beginner readers.

Reviewed by Jane Stephens
Age Guide 5+

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Maddy Mara is the pen name of Melbourne-based creative duo Hilary Rogers and Meredith Badger. Hilary and Meredith have been collaborating on children’s for nearly two decades. Hilary is an author and former publishing director; Meredith is the author of countless books for kids and young adults, and teaches English as a foreign language. Maddy Mara is the melding of their respective daughters’ names.